India’s Pakistan win should ring alarm bells

It was an Asian Games semi-final and the stakes could hardly have been higher. A place in the gold medal match was at stake, along with a direct ticket to LA28 for the team that ends up on the top step of the podium. Understandably, there was tension. But Pakistan have not been a match for India for some time now, and the difference in quality was once again evident in the first two quarters in Gifu. India led 3-1 and everything seemed to be going to plan.

Then, all hell broke loose.

As I watched, I kept going back to the days when Pakistan versus India was a signature hockey clash. I grew up on India-Pakistan hockey. Pakistan were a force, and beating them was an occasion to celebrate.

Tonight was one such night. The hype became real, and the celebration at the end was as much about relief as joy.

Matches like this will sustain the rivalry because it sells and provides an attractive headline. But in sporting terms, Pakistan pushing India this hard is not good news for Indian hockey.

Almost every Indian journalist present had come to hockey, leaving archery, squash and cricket behind. Had India been playing any other team, I am sure many of them would have travelled to cover cricket. That it was Pakistan meant there was hype.

For India, this was more of a mental challenge than anything else. At 3-0, they should have closed the game out. They needed to lift themselves in a match that matters so much to the country and give the fans something to cheer about.

More than any other game, you want India to beat Pakistan.

India played Pakistan twice in England in June in the Pro League. The first game became a close contest before India eventually won 4-3. Soon after, the players were told that the effort had not been good enough. Put mildly, the message was that they needed a stronger performance in the next game.

That is exactly what happened. India decimated Pakistan with goals, and the gulf between the two sides was apparent. At the World Cup, it was another Indian win over Pakistan in the Netherlands that allowed India to stay alive in the tournament.

At no point did I doubt India against Pakistan. But tonight, things did not go to plan.

India allowed Pakistan far too much space and, all of a sudden, it was 3-3 with everything to play for in the final quarter. Pakistan even earned a penalty corner at 3-3 but failed to convert. Eventually, Abhishek Nain scored to win it for India.

If you are an Indian fan, this win should leave you worried. Perturbed that things are not quite right. Deflated that Pakistan were able to push India to the brink.

With the gold medal match just a day away, the first task is to get the job done. Then India need to refocus, recalibrate and put a plan in place for LA28.

What we saw tonight was simply not good enough. It is important that those in charge recognise that and address it, putting their internal issues aside. No one cares about those issues if the sport itself is not in good shape.

And tonight, Indian hockey did not look in good shape.

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